Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Alert Counter Bubble pairs a Power Counter run with a bubble screen alert to the slot receiver, giving the QB a pre-snap and post-snap decision built off numbers in the box. The diagram shows the backside receiver running a shallow drift back across the field as a check option while the outside receiver stems a corner route to hold the deep defender, with the offensive line pulling to execute the counter scheme up front. The primary read progression starts with the alert: the QB checks the slot defender's leverage on the bubble before the snap, and if the numbers favor the run, he hands it off into the counter action away from the play call flow.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the slot cornerback or nickel defender crashing down pre-snap, since that signals the bubble alert is off and the counter is live. Sim blitzes and nano blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge can beat the counter before the pulling linemen get set, so respect fast interior pressure. Zone coverages with a hard-flowing linebacker to the counter side get gashed, since the pulling guard and fullback create a natural crease. Man coverage on the outside receiver running the corner route leaves the QB an easy alert if the defense sells out on stopping the run. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with the corner sitting deep and outside on the bubble receiver shut down the RPO throw, so lean on the counter handoff against those looks.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and use the alert key to decide between the bubble throw and the counter handoff.
If the defense has extra numbers in the box or a slot corner sitting outside with no help underneath, pull the trigger on the bubble immediately for a quick easy gain.
Use this play on early downs to stay ahead of the chains, since the counter action punishes overaggressive linebackers flowing hard to the strength.
Pair this with Inside Zone and RPO Zone Peek in the same set so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme, forcing linebackers to hesitate on every snap.
Mix in the corner route on the backside as a shot play once the defense starts jumping the bubble alert, since safeties will bite on the run fake.
